Peter Dutton warned that Chinese military exercises "could turn into an incursion tomorrow" amid a "very real" threat to the region.

12/08/2022

(See translation in Arabic section)

Sydney – M E TIMES Int’l: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has warned conflict in the South China Sea could be imminent amid a "very real" threat to peace and stability in the region.

Mr Dutton told reporters in Brisbane This week China's military exercises "could turn into an incursion tomorrow".

China last week launched military drills in the waters and air space surrounding Taiwan after Beijing was infuriated by United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island.

"I think we need people to hear the reality of what is happening at the moment. The South China Sea could plunge into conflict at any stage," Mr Dutton said.

"One of these exercises could turn into an incursion tomorrow and we have to be realistic about that because the threat to our peace and stability in our region is very real.

"And we need to stand up, to call it out and we need to do it in a way the public hears."

Mr Dutton made the remarks while responding to concerns the Coalition needed to tone down its verbal attacks on Beijing to win back Chinese-Australian voters.

The Liberal Party will conduct a review to examine how it lost six out of nine seats across the top 15 Chinese-Australian electorates at the Federal Election, The Australian reported.

"I think if you look back at the transcripts, I've been at pains to talk about China under President Xi. President Xi has appointed himself leader for life," Mr Dutton said. 

"It's like our criticism about Russia under President Putin. Our criticism is not of the Russian people. When we talk about problems we have in other countries, our comments aren't an attack on those people, it's on that dictatorship.

"I mean our attacks on the North Korean dictator... it's not an attack on the North Korean people. I mean the talk of that is just absurd."

Mr Dutton earlier said it was crucial to be transparent about the issues facing the region. 

"Over the last couple of years we've spoken about our region being in a period similar to the 1930s and that's the reality of it," he said.

"The carnage that we've seen in the Ukraine, we don't want to see repeated in Taiwan and so I think it's appropriate to be frank and honest and open.

"If we don't shine a light on the activities, on the behaviour of somebody like President Putin or like President Xi, we will find ourselves in conflict in this region."

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu recently said China's military exercises - with no end date mentioned - were part of its game-plan to invade the island.

"China has used the drills in its military play-book to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan," Mr Wu told reporters.

"It is conducting large-scale military exercises and missile launches, as well as cyberattacks, disinformation and economic coercion in an attempt to weaken public morale in Taiwan.

"After the drills conclude, China may try to routinise its action in an attempt to wreck the long-term status quo across the Taiwan Strait."

Taipei declared overnight it would respond with its own live-drills.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said China will "never allow" Taiwan to be separated from the country.

He said Taiwan is not an independent state but a province of the People's Republic of China and the country is waiting for a "peaceful reunification".

"The people in the mainland, the people in Taiwan are Chinese – we're both Chinese," he said during a National Press Club address.

"The Taiwanese are compatriots of China and the least thing we are ready to do is to use force."

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean elected unopposed as Deputy Liberal Party Leader

This week NSW Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean was elected deputy leader of the state's parliamentary Liberal Party. Kean’s election follows the resignation of former deputy leader Stuart Ayres last week.

Kean was elected unopposed in a party room meeting this morning. Premier Dominic Perrottet praised Kean, saying “Where Matt's real qualities are, in my view, and why he was elected today, is his passion and zeal for reform to set up a brighter future for the people of our great state”.

Kean said he was humbled to be endorsed by his colleagues in the party, stating “I believe in its cause and I believe in its values, its values of individual freedom, enterprise and opportunity for every single person, regardless of their background ... those values in action are what makes this state great”.

Ayres stood aside from his deputy leader and ministerial roles over the ongoing fallout of former deputy Premier John Barilaro's appointment to a US-based trade role.

Ayres denies any wrongdoing, announcing he that he would resign from his ministries “to maintain the integrity of the Cabinet” amid the ongoing inquiry.

ABOUT MATT KEAN

Kean was raised on Sydney’s upper North Shore. Kean attended Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview before attaining a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney. While at UTS, Kean was elected to the Student Representative Council. Kean first joined the liberal Party in 2001, and was elected vice-president of the NSW Young Liberals in 2008.

Prior to entering parliament, Kean worked as an adviser for the Leader of the Opposition, John Brogden, as an adviser to The Shadow Minister for Juvenile Justice and Women and as an accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Kean was first elected as Member for Hornsby – a safe Liberal seat – at the 2011 NSW State Election. Kean was elevated to the NSW Cabinet 2017 as Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation. Following the 2019 NSW election Kean was appointed Minister for Energy and Environment. It was in this role Kean became a household name, delivering the biggest renewable energy policy in Australia’s history and becoming an outspoken critic of “climate denialism”. Kean became Treasurer in the Perrottet Government in October 2021 following the resignation of then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Gladys Berejiklian has spoken openly about her transition to the private sector amid no intention of returning to politics

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has opened up about her move to the private sector and revealed she has no intention of going back into politics.

Ms Berejiklian resigned from her post in October last year after anti-corruption authorities announced she was being investigated over her secret relationship with an ex-MP.

While that investigation is ongoing, Ms Berejiklian’s time in parliament and her relationship with former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire are both over.

These days she’s an executive at telco giant Optus and dating one of the high-profile barristers who represented her before the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Ms Berejiklian has said in a new interview she has no plans to run for office again.

“I think people appreciate that once you leave public life, my decision was to go back to the private sector and to work hard and that's what I’m looking forward to doing,” she told Sky News Australia.

“I can't speak for what other people decide, I can only speak for myself, and I’m really, really, looking forward to the next chapter of my life.

“And that's with Optus, with their amazing people, and really making a difference to the organisation, which is what I’ve always been about.”

The ICAC has not delivered any findings and Ms Berejiklian has steadfastly denied she did anything wrong.

The watchdog’s Operation Keppel is looking into allegations Ms Berejiklian breached the public’s trust in the course of her secret relationship with Mr Maguire.

Mr Maguire initially caught the attention of anti-corruption officials conducting a separate investigation into a Sydney council, and they have asked prosecutors to look into whether he should be charged for giving false evidence to that inquiry.

The ICAC then began a separate investigation into his activities as an MP, and allegations he used his public office for personal gain, and discovered he was in a relationship with Ms Berejiklian that neither of them had disclosed.

The watchdog is probing whether Ms Berejiklian had a conflict of interest in handling money requests by Mr Maguire without disclosing they were a pair.

It recently revealed the tenure of the official overseeing that probe had been extended.

Assistant Commissioner Ruth McColl’s term was extended in July to go on until the end of October.

Ms McColl was brought in specifically to preside over Operation Keppel.

Ms Berejiklian, a Liberal, was premier for four years from 2017 and oversaw the state’s response to the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Her title at Optus is managing director of enterprise, business and institutional.

Chinese Ambassador to Canberra blames Australian media for 'harming relationship' between two countries

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian has levelled blame for the worsening ties between Canberra and Beijing on the domestic media.

In his first major address in Australia since becoming Beijing’s top diplomat in Canberra, Mr Xiao reiterated China’s recent demands on the Albanese Government to repair relations between the two countries.

The Ambassador also stressed China had no intention to “interfere” in domestic affairs and urged cooperation to “promote mutual understanding between our two peoples”.

But he then hit out at the Australian media over what he described as “mostly negative” coverage of Beijing.

“Media has a special role to play in forming of public opinion, here I'm talking to the media, but allow me to be frank… Here in this country, the media coverage on China are mostly not positive or to be, to be forward, mostly negative,” Mr Xiao said in his address to the National Press Club.

 “It is simply difficult to find out about news about China that is positive. There are, we do have, but it's pretty low. Disproportionately low.

“No country is perfect, however the coverage on a country that is always in a negative perspective is nowhere near to telling the truth about that country.”

The two governments have recently re-engaged bilateral communication following Beijing’s diplomatic freeze under the previous Morrison government.

The fractured relationship resulted in massive trade sanctions on key exports as well as attempts by Beijing to curb Chinese migration to Australia.

But the ambassador said the negative perceptions towards Beijing had been generated by the Australian media.

“And the coverage on China of such kind is many times misleading, also harming the friendship between our two peoples,” he said.

 “So it's important to take an objective perspective on China. Tell stories about China in all dimensions. This is good for the Australian public to know what China truly is.”

Despite recent meetings between the two countries’ foreign and defence ministers, Australia’s strong stance against recent Chinese military actions around Taiwan has further splintered ties.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the weekend labelled the exercises as “disproportionate and destabilising” and joined her US and Japan counterparts in urging de-escalation.

But China has warned the Australian government that its strong stance on Taiwan could further threaten mutual engagement, while again blaming Canberra for the “serious difficulties” in the relationship.

“We urge the Australian side to develop a clear understanding of the situation, pursue the right course, respect China’s core interests and major concerns,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday.

“Abide by the one-China principle, observe basic norms governing international relations, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, stop saying or doing the things that undermine regional peace and stability.

Public display of Nazi symbols banned in NSW

In an historic moment for our State, a new law making it a criminal offence to knowingly display a Nazi symbol in public without a reasonable excuse, has passed Parliament today.

The new offence in the Crimes Act 1900 will carry a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment or a $11,000 fine or both for an individual; or a fine of $55,000 for a corporation.

Attorney General Mark Speakman said the passing of the Crimes Amendment (Prohibition on Display of Nazi Symbols) Bill 2022 is a significant moment for survivors of the Holocaust and their loved ones.

“The events that occurred under the Nazi regime represent one of the darkest periods of recorded human history,” Mr Speakman said.

“The atrocities committed during that period are almost unimaginable, and the intergenerational trauma they have caused continues to be felt by many people today.

“This new offence sends a clear message that the display of Nazi symbols, and the hatred and bigotry they represent will not, and should not, be tolerated.

“This new criminal offence will provide important, additional safeguards against hate speech and vilification in our State.”

Mr Speakman said the Bill contains broad exceptions to allow Nazi symbols to be displayed where it is in the public interest in good faith, including for an academic, artistic or educational purpose.

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the passing of this Bill is a victory for our state’s rich multicultural society.

 “This Bill shows that our Government stands against the Nazi symbol and the hateful ideology it represents,” Mr Coure said.

“This bill will also protect those that use a swastika for religious and spiritual reasons including Buddhists, Hindus and Jains. It clearly states that the displaying of a swastika in connection with these spiritualties will not be deemed a Nazi symbol.”

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Member for Vaucluse, Gabrielle Upton said; “I am so grateful that the Bill I introduced has swiftly passed through NSW Parliament to end the offensive and deplorable use of Nazi symbols in NSW including the Nazi flag”.

“The Government acted decisively to shield the NSW Jewish community against hateful vilification and the passing of the Bill is an important win for the strong Jewish community in my electorate.”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Darren Bark said; “This is a historic day for New South Wales and a significant blow to those who promote hate and vilification in our community”.

“Nazi symbols are a gateway to violence and are used as a recruitment tool by extremists,” Mr Bark said.

Council strengthens its commitment to working with local Aboriginal community

First Nations people in Hornsby Shire will have their voices heard more than ever as Hornsby Shire Council last night appointed 14 voluntary community members to the Hornsby Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee (HATSICC).

The new intake will include 11 Aboriginal people, almost doubling last year, becoming the highest ever representation on the committee.

Formed in 2006, HATSICC is Council’s vital link with First Nations peoples in the Shire, respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ right to self-determination and community empowerment.

“The bloodline descendants of the Hornsby area would like to congratulate all the successful candidates for this year’s Hornsby Shire Council HATSICC, a collaborative consultative group protecting and promoting Aboriginal cultural heritage and cultural events within the Shire,” said Auntie Tracey Howie, GuriNgai Traditional Owner.

“We would also like to congratulate Hornsby Shire Council for their continued support and promotion of the local Aboriginal cultures and communities, and we look forward to continuing our respectful, eventful and meaningful relationship into the future.”

Darug Traditional Owner, Auntie Leanne Watson, also talked about the significance of the committee.

“On behalf of the Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation I would like to congratulate Council and the new members of the Hornsby Shire Council HATSICC on the wonderful, continued collaboration for the sharing of our culture and walking together on Darug and GuriNgai Ngurra.”

The committee’s advice has led to a range of important initiatives including the development and adoption of a Statement of Reconciliation in 2008; inviting Traditional Custodians to give a Welcome to Country at all Council meetings and Citizenship Ceremonies; the adoption of a Dual Naming Policy; the re-naming of the Pennant Hills Community Nursery to Warada Ngurang Community Nursery; the installation of Aboriginal artwork across the Shire reflecting Aboriginal culture; and adopting the Uluru Statement from the Heart in April 2019.

“Hornsby Shire Council has a strong commitment to the acknowledgement of First Nations peoples and to working with the local Aboriginal community through this important committee. We were delighted to receive a record number of nominees this year, reflecting the strong community interest in empowering local Aboriginal people and raising awareness of their culture,” said Hornsby Shire Mayor, Philip Ruddock.

Following a very strong response to a call for nominees, Council resolved to increase voluntary community membership of the HATSICC from 12 to 14, designate a position for the Hornsby Area Residents for Reconciliation community group and increase Councillor representation from six to seven. It also resolved to schedule an informal workshop to discuss the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan.

At last night’s meeting, Council also resolved to appoint new members to another of its important committees – the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Advisory Committee. Formed in 1994, the committee helps Council manage heritage items, conservation areas and strategic heritage projects. Mayor Ruddock emphasised the important work of the committee.

“Hornsby Shire has a rich and significant history. The volunteers play an important role in preserving this. Congratulations and thank you all our new committee members.”

The full agenda of the meeting, along with details of each item discussed, is available at hornsby.nsw.gov.au. The video recording of the meeting will be available from tomorrow afternoon (Friday).

Independent expert panel to lead NSW government’s industry policy white paper

Three leading industry experts have been appointed to an Advisory Panel that will develop the NSW Government’s Industry Policy White Paper aimed at ensuring that NSW continues to offer a business environment that enables accelerated growth.

Australian business leader Mr Jeff Connolly, former Commonwealth Treasury Secretary Dr Ken Henry AC, and former Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Dr Heather Smith PSM will lead the paper.

Starting today, the Advisory Panel will lead a two-day industry symposium to gain further insights from industry leaders, following almost 1,000 contributions from public submissions and business surveys through the Securing Future Innovation and Global Competitiveness in NSW – Green Paper.

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Alister Henskens said that following the close of public submissions, the convening of the esteemed Panel marks an important step in the White Paper’s development.

“A new industry policy will deliver the best business environment in which companies and industries can excel and create sustainable, well-paid jobs and deliver a brighter future for the people of NSW,” Mr Henskens said.

 “It will establish a more active approach by the NSW Government in partnering with the private sector and research institutions to build capacity and capability as new points of comparative advantage are developed.

NSW Premier says resignation letter penned by former building commissioner sent to ICAC

The NSW Premier says the state’s corruption watchdog has been provided with a resignation letter penned by an official who quit under mysterious circumstances.

Dominic Perrottet told parliament’s question time on Wednesday that a senior bureaucrat had sent former building commissioner David Chandler’s resignation letter to ICAC.

“I’ve read the resignation letter from David Chandler to the Department of Customer Service secretary Emma Hogan,” he said.

 “This is a personal letter related to an employment matter,” he said.

“I‘ve been advised by the secretary that appropriate action was taken by her in relation to the contents of the letter. Out of the abundance of caution the letter was provided to the ICAC for information.”

NSW Labor has demanded the letter be made public, believing it may shine light on why the building watchdog boss quit.

Mr Perrottet said the upper house would get the letter on Thursday.

He said Ms Hogan had forwarded the letter to the ICAC on August 1, and that he was informed of that fact late Wednesday night.

Mr Chandler resigned recently, but the reasons have not been made public.

The minister overseeing him, former fair work minister Eleni Petinos, was fired shortly afterwards.

Mr Perrottet told parliament her sacking had nothing to do with Mr Chandler’s resignation.

“Despite the fact that we’ve known about this resignation for weeks and weeks, the Premier informed the parliament (on Wednesday) that he had not read it,” Labor leader Chris Minns said earlier in the day.

“I’d encourage the NSW Premier to examine that letter.”

The letter is expected to reveal Mr Chandler cited a “problematic” relationship with Ms Petinos, whose office he found it difficult to get a hold of.

Ms Petinos was asked to resign by Mr Perrottet after he was made aware of allegations, which she denied, that she ran an unsafe office.

$1.27 Million to bolster energy storage in the Hunter

The Albanese Government is boosting renewable energy technology by supporting a ground-breaking thermal energy storage project in the Hunter to support the energy transformation.

Through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) the government is providing $1.27 million to Newcastle-based company MGA Thermal to develop a 5 MWh thermal energy storage system.

The $2.85 million project will see the construction of a pilot unit to showcase steam generation from stored thermal energy with the capacity to provide a new form of medium-term energy storage.

As Australia ramps up renewable generation such as wind and solar, we will need more energy storage to deliver secure and affordable renewable energy for Australian businesses and households.

The government’s funding will help take this technology from lab to market.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, on a visit to the MGA Thermal manufacturing site near Newcastle with local member Meryl Swanson, said the government was proud to be supporting a local Newcastle company.

“MGA Thermal is a wonderful example of Australian know-how leading the way in the rapidly expanding renewables sector,” he said.

“The company’s unique technology has the potential to make major advances in medium-term storage that are vital for decarbonising industrial energy use and electricity generation in Australia and the world.”

“ARENA makes it possible for Australians to invest in ground-breaking projects like MGA Thermal, which is why the Albanese Government is committed to protecting and strengthening the agency.”

Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson, who accompanied Minister Bowen on the visit, said the trail-blazing project by MGA Thermal in Newcastle would stimulate the local economy and create employment.

“This project will have many positive knock-on effects for the region, including delivering 22 high-skill full-time jobs,” she said.

Expanding the Dust Diseases Scheme and protecting worker entitlements

The NSW Government today introduced the Workers Compensation (Dust Diseases) Amendment Bill 2022 to support the operation of the Dust Diseases Care Scheme.

The Scheme provides financial compensation and health care support to people affected by work related dust diseases. If passed, the Bill will simplify benefit calculations to ease the administrative burden on injured workers and their families.

The amendments will remove anomalies in historical legislation that could have given rise to inconsistencies in the calculation of benefits for injured workers. The changes will mean that all current benefit rates are protected and there is no reduction in entitlements.

Minister for Finance Damien Tudehope said the amendments will support the Dust Disease Authority to deliver the Scheme effectively.

“The passing of these amendments will contribute to improving the customer experience for workers in the Scheme by removing any potential ambiguity over their entitlements and simplify the calculation of benefits for historical claims.” Mr Tudehope said.

The introduction of this Bill was brought forward in the same week that the NSW Government passed the Workers’ Compensation (Dust Diseases) Amendment (Scheduled Diseases) Regulation 2022 (Regulation).

The Regulation ensures the expansion of the Schedule 1 list of diseases as recommended by an independent review conducted by Professor Tim Driscoll.

Have your say on the Mental Health Line

People with lived experience of mental illness and their carers are helping shape the future of the Mental Health Line by sharing their experience with the NSW Government.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the 1800 011 511 NSW Mental Health Line was a free phone service which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering specialist advice, support and referral to specialist NSW Health mental health services.

“We want to ensure it continues to meet the mental health needs of our communities,” Mr Dominello said.

 “Co-designing the Mental Health Line with people with lived experience of mental illness is the best way to ensure the next evolution continues to make a real difference to those who need it.

“Our aim to be the most customer-centric government by 2030 starts by learning from our customers’ experiences and needs.

“We encourage people to get involved in the Have Your Say consultation, whether they have experience using the Mental Health Line or may have not known about the service, we want to hear from all.”

Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the events of the last few years have highlighted the importance and the need to invest in mental health services.

To Have Your Say on the future of the Mental Health Line, please visit: www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/nsw-mhl-consultation 

Funding to enhance University Collaboration

Young people will be supported and encouraged to study at university, upskill and pursue entrepreneurship through innovative new projects that aim to enhance educational outcomes and break down barriers to university study.

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said four projects will receive a share of the $1.75 million NSW Government Collaboration and Innovation Fund, which focuses on supporting innovation and addressing challenges to partnerships within the university sector.

“These grants will help break down barriers that prevent people who want to study at our world class universities and will drive innovative new projects in collaboration with the university sector,” Mr Henskens said.

“Projects funded through this round of the program include workshops to encourage high school students to explore technology entrepreneurships and toolkits to help regional and culturally and linguistically diverse students bridge the skills gap between school and university.”

The Collaboration and Innovation Fund provides grants to support university projects that address education goals included in the NSW Higher Education Strategy.